• Approved the first reading of a change in the town’s buffering guidelines. If the update passes a second reading on May 5, zoning board of adjustment or town approval would no longer be necessary for substituting a dense vegetative buffering for all or a portion of a fence or wall.
• Council tabled a vote on revisions to the town’s signage ordinance. Council will discuss the changes, recommended by Pendleton Planning Commission, at an upcoming work session. The sign ordinance had not been revised since at least 2001. A variety of sign types are covered in the revision. Maintenance and placement expectations are also outlined.
PENDLETON — An amendment to Pendleton’s business license ordinance will not impact the basic cost of licenses.
Changes approved by town council Monday include a $70 solid waste-tipping fee for all in-town businesses. Anderson County mandates the fee to help defray the costs of solid waste.
The amendment also addresses rental properties. In the past, a person owning or having a financial interest in four of more units of rental property within town limits were considered to be in the rental business. The amendment now specifies the parameters as being two or more units of residential and one of more units of commercial property.
As before, all rental businesses are subject to a business license fee, based on gross receipts.
Fees range from $25 (for businesses generating $2,000 or less a year) to $120 plus $1 for each additional $1,000 up to $500,000 (for businesses grossing over $30,000). For business grossing more than $500,000, the charge for $1,000 revenue increments changes to 50 cents.
The amendment also changes how late fees for business licenses are computed. A 5 percent penalty will replace the prior policy of a compounded amount. Business license fees are considered late after April 3. Beginning May 1, and the first day of each month thereafter, a 5 percent penalty will be added until the balance is paid. After June 30, delinquent business license fees are subject to legal action.
All facets of the amendment are effective immediately.
Before council voted on the amendment Monday, Pendleton Mayor Carol Burdette passed along a related request.
“I was asked this weekend whether or not due to the economy and losing business if we would consider reducing our business license costs and wanted to bring that to your attention,” Burdette said.
Council decided against lowering business license fees, noting the fees have not been raised in approximately eight years.
Council member Frank Crenshaw indicated Pendleton’s fees were less than those in Seneca, Clemson and Anderson.
Town Administrator Teri Sloan also noted another advantage of doing business in Pendleton.
“Most towns charge double for out-of-town vendors coming in, but we don’t. We charge the same amount,” Sloan said.
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